Sword from the Sky

Sword from the Sky - Chapter Six

A SISTER'S CLAIM

TWO MOONS, THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE, OR AT LEAST what they appeared to be. The eyes of the strange woman who stood towering over Luca swaddled him with a false sense of well-being. But was this creature truly benevolent? His intuition told him different, or at least, sent waves of confusion up and down his limbs. So, for his own sake, his immediate reaction was to step back, only to have this overbearing woman grace him with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.

As Luca stepped away, he was met by his father, Druuk, who took him back a couple of steps, placing him near a column in one of the corners of the hall. The woman did not turn to them but only raised her head to Siel, Vohro and Jeskun.

The windows throughout the tournament hall darkened, as if they were shunning the sun’s rays, and the hall began to lose most of its light. The student’s faces grew dim and the air turned cold. Yet, the red-haired lady remained brilliant with her pale skin, and her color began to shine like an aura of immense energy. She wasn’t a blinding light, but she radiated the paleness of her skin, and in contrast, her glimmering red hair sparkled, and whenever a small shadow consumed the whole of her hair, the sparkles shined like small stars in the bewitching sky. It was a mesmerizing effect, and it appeared to the Servantu Alta that it was doing its job, for the crowd began to fall into a trance-like state, and this was most disturbing.

Druuk stared at the woman’s face, and his eyes opened up as big as they could, for he was captivated by the lady’s features. She resembled someone he once loved, who he still loved, and this made him tremble down all the length of his body.

Sensing his stare, the lady turned to Druuk, and as she did, Druuk witnessed her face changing shape for a split second, as if something extraordinarily beautiful had just become as foul as death’s stench, but before he could realize her ugliness, she turned pretty once more, now even more so, and again, he was reminded of the face he once held in his arms. She gave Druuk the strangest of smiles and a quick scowl before turning her head back to Siel.

“I have come for my sister’s son,” the lady in red said. “My sister, who was Evehnieh bal Astrahl. You might have known her as Evie bal Bune, mistress to the Prince of Bune.”

Upon hearing this, Druuk filled up with anger and mumbled under his breath, “She was not my mistress.”

“Reveal yourself, visitor, before we speak any further,” Siel said in a calm but stern voice.

“I am Malasorta bal Astrahl,” the lady said. “I come from the northern mountains, from the region of the crescent moon, where there is no sun.”

“Why have you brought darkness into this hall today?” Siel said.

“I know not what you speak of,” Malasorta said. “I only bring happiness, as you yourself can witness.”

With that comment, Siel turned to look at the crowd and noticed that all of them were staring at Malasorta as if they were in pure ecstasy. Siel motioned for Vohro to approach him but realized that he, too, was hypnotized. He turned to his left and saw Mastro Jeskun trying to fight the effect, but failing with every second that passed. And now Siel was beginning to get frustrated with this impromptu visit.

“Open your eyes,” whispered Siel.

Instantly, everyone snapped out of their trances, gasping for breaths. Siel motioned to Mastro Jeskun. “Gather everyone and take them to the meeting hall, and stand guard with the rest of the officials,” Siel said. “Do this speedily.”

“At once, High Servant,” Jeskun said. He ran down to the crowd and began herding them to the other room.

Within moments, the hall became vacant, except for a few, who now surrounded Malasorta. Druuk’s older brother, the first prince, appeared next to him in order to get a closer look at the lady. The first prince’s name was Drunen, and he was as tall and as elegant as his younger brother. Drunen was also surprised at the similarities between Evie and the powerful presence that stood in front of him, but the strangeness of Malasorta’s face was so strong that it bothered all of his inner senses.